If You Suspect You Might Have A Drinking Problem (An Open Letter)

RobFromGa | December 11, 2004 | RobFromGa

[sweetiepiezer]

Way to go!!!!!!

[MarkL]

Good for you. How do you know when you have an alcohol problem vs. enjoying a drink.

I was in the same situation. Although I started drinking beer at a very early age (16) I rarely drank enough to get really drunk, and never had hangovers. When I was in college, I did start drinking heavily, and my roommate would joke that they could find me by following a trail of beer bottles. I also discovered that I loved both tequilla and rye whiskey. It wasn't unusual for me to stay off the beer, but drink an entire fifth in an evening. I did pretty well in school, and once on summer break, I spent nearly the entire summer drunk.

So, one day, I started wondering if I might be an alcoholic. Then I read the saying, "If you think you might be an alcoholic, you probably are one."

At that point I thought, "well, lets see if I really am one." I stopped drinking that day, and didn't have any alcohol at all (except for a very rare dose of "Nyquil" when I had a bad cold) for the next 7 years. Then, one day, I decided that I'd like a beer. And I had one. That's the key... I had ONE beer. And didn't have another one, or really feel like having another beer for a few months.

So, I discovered that I don't have a drinking problem. That I can stop anytime I want. So, I do have a beer every now and then. I would guess that I have fewer than 3 a month. Some months, I'll have none, in fact, it's been two months since I've had a beer, but I've had a Samual Smiths Taddy Porter and a Young's Double Chocolate stout sitting in my fridge all that time... Maybe tonight I'll have that stout for desert.

I guess I'm lucky that I don't have a drinking problem.

Mark

[Admin Moderator]

Regarding #129:

Nothing objectionable about your item as such, but this thread probably isn't the place for it.

[PeriwinkleMinniepaws]

XCamel, what you said, what you said! BTTT and here it is again:

A few basic caveats:

Beware "double-digit" sobriety.
Addiction is always a symptom of deeper problems.
The only one who doesn't know, is YOU.
Alone you must do it, but you can not do it alone.
The farther you are from your last drink, the closer you are to your next.
Vader: "Use the STEPS, Luke..."
Even sober, your disease does not rest. If you drink, you do not "start over", you pick up where you left off...
One is too many, and a whole ocean is not enough.

[kanawa]

I used this Hazelden book everyday for the first few years.
It was a great help

[wingnut1971]

Outstanding book. I also like 'The Courage to Change' and the Hazelden pamphlet 'Stinking Thinking'. They keep me honest.

[kanawa]

Quit drinking the day my first child was born because I thought I could be a better parent and set a better example without it.

One of the greatest blessings of my sobriety is that my grandchildren have never seen me drunk.

[MeekOneGOP]

bump!

[zerosix]

Having been to many AlAnon and Open AA meetings, I can attest the the "bottoms" hit by many are too devasting for most of us to even imagine.

I would further state to any of you out there reading Rob's Open Letter, instead of asking yourselves whether you have a problem, ask those closest to you, if you have a problem.

As the former wife of an alcoholic, when he did quit he asked me if I thought any of our friends, neighbors or family might think it odd that he not drink around them, and I told him that they would probably all be grateful. He responded by asking if I thought any of them might have thought that he had a "drinking problem" and I told him that if they were truly honest with themselves, they all knew he did.

Although we are no longer married, I am grateful to God that he quit drinking because I know his life has been immeasurely enriched every day by his sobriety. I am also grateful to God that I got to spend 16 years with a sober husband rather than divorcing a drunk.

[paul51]

One of the greatest blessings .....

indeed

[dakine]

hahaha...

[Hand em their arse]

"I do have a pregnant wife, a 27 month old son and a job that take up a great deal of my time. As a result I don't get to AA meetings much at all anymore."

You do know what I'm going to say now, right??? :)

[Ol' Sox]

Rob - well done, and welcome to the club. I quit 11 1/2 years ago and have not looked back. Cigarettes took a little longer, but I quit those too. Elfman - all the best to you. Don't be afraid to ask for help, advice or encouragement from those of us who have responded here.

[kanawa]

If any of you have any suggestions about how to handle this and maybe contact Jim Robinson and see what he feels about this.

There was a thread in which this was discussed back in '03.

Is there a need for a Free Republic daily 12-step thread?

I don't know if Jim gave any feedback. Laz?

[RobFromGa]

Here is a new ping list for people interested in Addiction Recovery. I am not looking to start any daily threads, but if I come across items in the news that might interest re: Addiction Recovery, I'll ping this list.

Anyone is welcome, whether you are recovering yourself or whether you are affected by the addiction of others.

Thanks to quantim for the graphic!

[codyjacksmom]

Way to go Rob! We are at about the same clean time. I'm at 13 1/2 months after 25 years of heavy drinking. Nothing like drinking every second you're awake. I sure don't miss those morning shakes. Took me 4 detoxes and 3 treatment centers. The last one, which was 32 days of intense in patient, was the one that finally did it. Actually, I knew I would die soon if I didn't stop, and finally wanted it bad enough. Thanks for sharing your story and please add me to the ping list.